Toasted Muesli = Healthy + Yummy!

Okay so this is very timely, considering we are at the start of winter here in chilly Melbourne. Lately, my very sweet little son has been waking oh every other morning let's just say at 5.15am

and the last thing I do not at all feel like doing is venturing down to the cold kitchen to put a pot of porridge on in the dark (we are porridge obsessed in our house).

note: theoretically this recipe would actually suit the warm summer mornings better I suppose - who can ever remember to soak their oats bircher style in the fridge the night before? Not me!

So I stumbled across this lovely recipe here the other day - I tweaked it for my own dietary and budgetary needs and voila! It is so easy and very quick and a lovely alternative to having a cooked breakfast. The ones you can buy are full of saturated fat and preservatives (try and find a muesli that has none, its very hard!) so I am so thrilled to find I can make it myself and the kids loved it too. Perhaps everyone else has been aware of this ability to toast ones own muesli - but I certainly was in the dark and am glad to have seen the light.

Totally yummy, cheap, very sweet and crunchy except there is only one problem. I ate it all day!

Recipe/Method/How To...

Heat up one cup of honey (to make it runny) and add to 5 cups of rolled oats, a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a bit of grated nutmeg and allspice if you have it, 150gms-ish each of pepitas and sunflower seeds and stir until coated.

Divide it between two lined baking trays and bake in the oven (180) for around 20 minutes or until golden! Remember to give them a stir half way through so you don't end up with burnt bits, it actually cooks very quickly so keep a good eye on it!

So if you look on the link to the original recipe there are obviously loads more options, including

*slivered almonds

*chopped dried apricots

*sultanas

*dried cranberries

*shredded coconut

*sunflower or canola oil

I say go for it and add whatever your heart desires - personally I make mine basic and then add as I serve afterwards. Chuck it in an airtight container and try and make it last!

Ooh I just had another idea - wouldn't this be super sprinkled on some yoghurt spooned on top of some chargrilled or baked nectarines in summer? Or the other way around, Bircher style breakfast/brunch with natural yoghurt on top and apple or pear grated through? I have so far tried mine dry by the spoonful and with cold milk. Mmmmm...

Hope you have had a wonderful day!

Sarah xxx